The belief that the Inuit have dozens of different words for snow has become a widely known piece of linguistic trivia. But, where did this belief come from and how close is it to the truth? Where did the Eskimo snow myth come from? At some point, you’ll have heard the “50 words for snow”Read more

Readability rating: A Average grade level: 8.8. The British Forces are going to war with acronyms. The defense minister, Stuart Andrew, has banned the use of acronyms and abbreviations in his office. Smart move, or will it all go FUBAR?Read more

Readability rating: A Average grade level: 5.4. Modern English lets us down when it comes to swearing. Who gives a damn about damn? The F-word reigns supreme, but it’s overused and is more the norm than shocking. What words from old English can bring back the shock factor?Read more

The English language can be pretty challenging. You need to know your independent clauses from your dependent. Then there are subjects, prepositions, clauses, conjunctions, and … the list goes on. Understanding how English fits together is the key to good grammar and great readability.Read more

Readability rating: B Average grade level: 10 English is known for interesting oddities, including some fabulous American town names. From the obscure to the sublime, it makes traveling through the US even more interesting.Read more

Mon Dieu the French. They are so precisely impeccable about the use of their language. Anyone who has visited France knows that if you attempt to stumble through even the simplest dialogue with a native speaker you had better know what you are saying.Read more